Southwark Council will begin refunding tenants it overcharged for water bills between 2001 and 2013 from July 11. A high court judge ruled in April that a long-standing deal whereby the council were collecting water bills from council tenants on behalf of Thames Water, had been illegal.

Mr Justice Newey said the council had contradicted the ‘2006 Water Resale Order’ by effectively “bought and re-sold water and sewage services” while making a profit. Southwark council is now making arrangements to pay this money back.  If you were a tenant of Southwark Council between 1 April 2001 and 28 July 2013, and were charged for water and sewerage by the Council, you are entitled to a refund.

All current tenants who are affected will be receiving letters next week that set out what their refund will be, after deduction of any arrears. Cheques will begin to be issued in the following week.

Refunds in relation to tenancies which ended before 28 July 2013 are being handled separately and the council expects to start this process in late Summer.

More Information and a fact sheet can be downloaded here:

20160629 Final letter TRAs [4598]

20160628 Water fact sheet v5 [4599]